NZ Herald Awards

The NZ Herald has its best and worst political moments of 2005.

Some of them are:

Biggest masterstroke: Labour’s interest-free student loans. An instant hit in the polls.

Biggest blunders: John Tamihere Investigate interview; Michael Cullen’s 67c tax cut; Trevor Mallard’s false American claims; Winston Peters holding out on post-election intentions.

Biggest bombshells: Rod Donald’s death; Don Brash revealing he had talked to the Exclusive Brethren.

Biggest flop: Destiny New Zealand.

Biggest tantrum: Peter Dunne on election-night

John Armstrong also goes through the winners and losers and ultimately politican of the year.

Losers are:

David Benson-Pope, George Hawkins, Taito Philip Field, Michael Cullen, Tim Barnett, Jim Sutton, Paul Hutchison, Brian Connell, Johan Tamihere and other MPs not re-elected.

The Greens get the collective loser tag for both missing out on Cabinet, and losing Rod Donald.

Winners are:

Helen Clark
Bill English
John Key
Judith Collins
Maori Party

Almost winners are:

David Parker
Rodney Hide
Clayton Cosgrove

And the politician of the year is:

John Key!